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Volume 1, No 3
August 1989
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I have been recently thinking about two scriptures, Mark 14:9, 21. These verses deal with
two individuals- Mary of Bethany and Judas Iscariot. It is interesting to contemplate
their lives. Judas spent much more time with the Lord Jesus than Mary, but she made the
right "choice!"
Each of us make choices each day. These choices could be good or bad in the light of
eternity. Of Judas, the Lord Jesus said, "Good were it for that man if he had never
been born." What a sad commentary on this man's life! What will the Lord Jesus have
to say about my life? About yours?
In contrast, we hear the words of the Lord Jesus concerning Mary, "Truly I say unto
you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that
she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." What a wonderful commentary
on her life! Mary valued her time with the Lord Jesus. She knew Him intimately.
"Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord." Oh, to be like Mary! She sat
and heard the Word of the Lord and obeyed it. What a value she placed upon the Lord Jesus!
Judas valued Him at a mere 30 pieces of silver. May God help us to value the Lord Jesus
like we should!!
Keith Van Ryn
Atlanta, Georgia
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***The Believer's Walk***
Ephesians 4 & 5
1. Walk in Unity - 4:1-3
The believer is called upon to walk worthy of his vocation. Contrary to popular opinion,
our vocation is our service for the Lord - not our secular job! The phrase "walk
worthy" conveys the idea of placing "equal weight." We do this by
"forbearing one another in love" and by "endeavoring to keep the unity of
the Spirit." Please notice we are not to GENERATE unity (an impossibility for us),
but just MAINTAIN it (our Lord Jesus Christ has already established unity in the body).
2. Walk in Holiness - 4:17-32
In glaring contrast to the lifestyle of the society around us ("vanity of their
mind" - meaning "aimless" - vs. 17), we are to walk in "righteousness
and true holiness" - vs. 24. One of the primary reasons for this is that we are
members one of another - vs. 25; a result of the unity established by the Lord Jesus
Christ. In so doing, we will not "give place to the devil" - vs. 27.
3. Walk in Love - 5:1-2
Brethren, we are to be imitators of God, just as dear children imitate folks who are older
than they are. The example of love is the Lord Jesus Christ, not our own definition.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us!!!" - I John 3:1.
If we realize the unity of the body and the necessity of maintaining a holy lifestyle,
then it will be much easier to walk in love.
4. Walk in Light - 5:8-14
If we walk in the light of the Word of God, we shall easily prove what is acceptable to
Him (Romans 12:1-2 and I John 1:7). The hymn writer said it best:
"When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of His Word;
What a glory He sheds on our way...."
5. Walk in Wisdom - 5:15-17
The Lord calls upon us to be "wise" rather than "unwise." We are to
walk "circumspectly" - accurately, carefully, looking at things from every
possible angle or perspective (circumference - distance AROUND something) before becoming
involved or participating. "And in all things that I have said unto you be
circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of
thy mouth." (Exodus 23:13) We do not jump head-long into things because
"everybody's doing it." We have a much higher standard - to walk worthy of our
vocation!
Bill Gustafson
Waynesboro, Georgia
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***Daniel 9:1-27***
1. Daniel 9:1 - Calling
a.) Calls us to repentance. Matt. 9:13
b.) Calls us to a specific purpose in life.
c.) Called Christians. Acts 11:26
2. Daniel 9:2 - Understanding
a.) "Search the scriptures." John 5:39
b.) "Study to show thyself approved." 2 Tim. 2:15
c.) "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts." I Pet. 3:15
3. Daniel 9:3 - Setting
a.) "Set your affections above." Col. 3:1-3
b.) "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." Matt. 6:23
4. Daniel 9:20 - Confessing
a.) "If we confess our sins..." I John 1:9
b.) "Search me, oh God..." Psalm 139:23,24
c.) "Examine me, oh Lord..." Psalm 26:2
d.) "Save thyself & them that hear thee..." I Tim. 4:16
e.) "Warn them that are unruly..." I Thess. 5:14
f.) "Warn the righteous." Ezek. 3:20-21
5. Daniel 9:23 - Supplicating
a.) "With all prayer and supplication..." Eph. 6:18,19
b.) "By prayer and supplication..." Phil. 4:6,7
6. Daniel 9:24a - Waiting
a.) "To wait for His Son..." I Thess. 1:9,10
b.) "But let us watch..." I Thess. 5:6
c.) "Even so, come Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20
7. Daniel 9:24b - Sanctifying
a.) "Not be ashamed before Him..." I John 2:28,29
b.) "That they may be ashamed..." I Peter 3:16
c.) "Let him not be ashamed..." I Peter 4:16
d.) "Not ashamed of the gospel..." Rom. 1:16
All of this began when Daniel had a vision from God. The light shone into the darkness of
his understanding. Are you in darkness? The Lord Jesus is the Light of the world. (John
1:4-9) Let Him bring you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (I Peter 2:9) You are
in darkness if you have not trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour.
"Repent; (turn around) for the kingdom of God is at hand." (Matt. 4:16,17) Won't
you come to Him now??
Calvin Fritchey
Pembroke Pines, Florida
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***Spiritual Photography***
Photography requires four things: a camera, an object, sensitive film and light.
1. Requirements for Spiritual Photography
(1) The Word of God - the camera.
(2) Christ the Lord, the object.
(3) Human spirit, the sensitive film.
(4) Holy Spirit, the light.
"But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face are transformed to
the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit." - (2 Corinthians
3:18 J.N.D. trans.)
2. Examples of Spiritual Photography
Two Biblical characters reveal the glory and the tragedy of spiritual life - Moses and
Samson. In the realm of the subconscious, victory began for one and tragedy for the other.
The subconscious mind is of supreme importance in building character or its
disintegration. See Prov. 4:23 and Prov. 23:7. The unconscious influence is always greater
than the conscious influence, for good or for evil. We all cast a constant influence and
are unconscious of it. Note Moses and Samson:
a. Moses was Unconscious of Spiritual Glory
"Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while God talked with him" -
Exo. 29:34. He prayed to God - "Show me Thy glory". Forty days and nights in
God's presence produced the spiritual glory! Let it speak to us:
When the sensitive film of our subconscious mind is constantly exposed to God's Word, in
which we "behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" - 2 Cor. 4:6 -
THEN, after a shorter or longer exposure - WONDER OF WONDERS - the image of God's own Son
is imprinted on our lives and in our faces - the blessedness of SPIRITUAL GLORY!
b. Samson was Unconscious of Spiritual Tragedy
"He wist not that the Lord was departed from him" - Judg. 16:20. His strength
did not depend on his locks, but on his faithfulness to his Nazarite vow - see Num. 6:1-8.
Gradually, step by step, he went DOWN, holding the glory of God cheaper than his own
fleshly pleasure! What does this say to us?
When the sensitive film of the subconscious mind is constantly exposed to the things of
pride, pleasure, lust and the world, inevitable tragedy in spiritual character follows.
For any believer to dally constantly on this world's sin and pleasure, like Samson, the
Nazarite locks of separation to God are shorn! It produces SPIRITUAL TRAGEDY!
The road upward to spiritual glory or downward to spiritual tragedy is by gradual stages.
Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a
character and reap a destiny.
3. Our Responsibility
Christ glorified on high needs to become more familiar and real to our souls by faith to
reproduce His image. It is not reached in a moment, but by a gradual process daily!
God Shows in Your Face
You don't have to say how you live each day -
You don't have to tell if you work or you play:
A tried true barometer serves in the place,
However you live - it shows in your face!
The false, the deceit that you bear in your heart,
Will not stay inside where it first got a start.
For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace;
What you bear in your heart - you wear in your face!
If your life is unselfish, if for others you live.
For not what you can get, but how much you can give.
If you live close to God by His infinite grace -
You don't have to tell it - it shows in your face!
John Bramhall
Florence, South Carolina
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***Nehemiah 2:1b-3a***
Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me,
"Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but
sorrow of heart." Then I was very sore afraid, and said unto the king, "Let the
king live forever."
Nehemiah found himself in an awkward and dangerous position being responsible for the
king's best interest as his cupbearer. Some very distressing news had so affected
Nehemiah's heart, that it was noticeable in the king's presence.
A cupbearer with Nehemiah's condition of heart in the presence of the king could easily be
considered susceptible to treason. Moreover, his countenance was outrightly offensive to
the king, as it suggested that the king and his presence were insufficient to satisfy the
desire of his heart.
What is your heart's condition in the presence of your King today? Could your countenance
in worship be fallen unawares? Has the manner in which He has chosen to weave your
"web of time" dimmed your appreciation of the King? Could He echo to your heart
today words similar to those Delilah asked Samson, "How canst thou say, 'I love
thee', when thine heart is not with me?" (Judg. 16:15)
The King's perspective, knowing fully both the riches of our incorruptible inheritance and
the price He paid to make it ours, demands that nothing ever keep us from entering
"His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise...always...for all
things...in everything!" (Psalm 100:4, Ephesians. 5:20, I Thessalonians 5:18) This is
the only appropriate countenance in the King's presence.
Surely this condition of heart is the strength for faithful service as well. The king had
reason to be concerned with Nehemiah's ability to serve in his best interests. In our
case, a right condition of heart in the King's presence enables our motive for service to
be always the King's glory, above all else. Nehemiah knew this well as he taught the
people, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) The Lord Jesus
taught this clearly as well when He made the distinction between the faithful and the
unfaithful: "He that loveth Me" and "He that loveth me not." (John
14:21,24)
By God's enabling grace, may we ever heed John's instruction in his first epistle,
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols," so that we will ever answer the
King, "Let the King live forever" as the preeminent One in my heart! (Colossians
1:18)
Henry Sardina
Union, Missouri
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***In Nothing, Be Anxious ***
Philippians 4:6
I have seen the motto, "I have had many troubles, most of which have never
happened" many times hanging on a household wall. And true this is! We worry over
things that do happen, but often much more over things that never happen! We anticipate
trouble like the two Marys of old as they approached the tomb at the rising of the sun.
Their problem was, "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the
sepulcher?" "And when they looked up (marg) they saw that the stone was rolled
away: for it was great."
Needless worry is devastating, depressing and disturbing, and the best antidote to remedy
this insidious poison to spirit, soul, and body, is the privilege of prayer. It is when we
look up to the Throne of Grace, the worry melts away. "In no thing be anxious, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God." And when God says, "in nothing", He means nothing! And then the peace
of God becomes a garrison to keep out this enemy.
We anticipate so often,
In a rising tide of fear,
Non-existent burdens coming,
Fancied troubles will appear!
With relief we then discover,
After days of dark despair,
When the gloom is disappearing,
That the stone was never there!
Live today in sweet composure,
Serve the Christ of matchless worth:
E'en today may close in glory,
Spend as if the last on earth.
Christ is risen! He is coming!
We shall meet Him on the way:
In the meantime let all worry,
Like the stone, be rolled away!
Bernard Fell
Solihull, England
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Volume 1, No. 4
September 1989
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"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." So says the Scripture, and so it
must be in our lives as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not pray to God, we
will prey on each other. We must keep the throne of grace ever near, that "we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
This hectic world in which we live often succeeds in severing this lifeline of the
believer, and we lose the simple truth we often sing about:
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged - take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness - take it to the Lord in prayer.
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace."
David Van Ryn
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***What Am I Worth?***
Read Leviticus 27:1-9
The beginning and ending of many books present a great contrast! Genesis begins with the
declaration of Creation in its vastness, and yet ends with the reference to "a coffin
in Egypt", evidence of man's sin! Revelation begins with John on the isle of Patmos,
but he leads us onward and upward to heights of eternal glory , the New Jerusalem and the
New Creation! Leviticus reveals first the infinite value of the sacrifice of Christ in the
offerings, yet ends with the individual saint being able to express appreciation for such
blessings by a "singular vow" - and that voluntarily!
1 - God's Valuation Of His People - Note carefully that He valued them from a month old to
sixty years and over! None too old, none too young to be of value to Him! From the eldest
to the youngest member of God's assembly, local and corporate, all are of value to Him.
The difference in value between male and female is no difficulty; the males were
representative of the energetic activity in Israel and the female the passive character of
work. Both of these characteristics were in the Lord Jesus Christ in His ministry on earth
and should be found in ours. How we need energetic and passive characteristics!
2 - How God Estimated The Value Of Devotion - Verses 8, 11, 12 and 14 reveal it was to be
done by the "priest" - and his estimation "shall stand". According to
their age and ability, it ranged from three shekels to fifty shekels. The valuation of our
worth is made by our great High Priest even now, and will also be revealed at His Judgment
Seat in its permanency! But let us not wait for that! What am I worth to Him now? Is it
only three shekels, or have I attained to fifty shekels? How long have I been saved? One
month, or over sixty years? Let us search our hearts. Yet do not fail to notice that the
Lord made provision to value some in "poorer circumstances" in verse 8. It is
our great High Priest above who perfectly understands our gift or ability, large or small,
and places His value upon it. "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the
measure of the gift of Christ" - Eph. 4:7. The gift the Lord has given me, am I
devoting its use to my Lord or His glory? This is my voluntary responsibility according to
Rom. 12:1-2.
3 - The Reasons For The Believer's Voluntary Vow - The value of my devotion will always be
based on my personal appreciation of Christ! Read, study and imbibe into your heart from
the offerings in Leviticus 1 thru 7, all that Christ IS and HAS DONE in His great work of
redemption. Drink in the meaning of each offering presenting His blessed Person and His
work; then realize the application of making the "Singular Vow" - your personal
appreciation for His Person and His work! Note some things to find:
(a) - In the offerings, God reveals to me what Christ is for me in His presence. In Lev.
27, I find what I can be for Christ while in this world.
(b) - The offerings reveal to me God's valuation of Christ, and this last chapter reveals
the value of my service before God; what it should be!
(c) - The offerings reveal the measure of my acceptance with the Father, perfect and
complete (Eph. 1:6); this last chapter gives a standard by which my consecration to Him
can be estimated.
(d) - The offerings assure me I can fully rest in all that Christ is for me! The last
chapter indicates that I should not neglect what I can be for Him!
Two closing questions for us: -
(1) - WHAT DOES CHRIST MEAN TO ME?
(2) - WHAT DO I MEAN TO HIM?
The "singular vow" was a voluntary dedication to God by man or woman that
expressed their appreciation to Jehovah for all His blessings to them. It told their love
for Him! Shall we not prove that "we love Him, because He first loved us?" - 1
John 4:19.
John W. Bramhall
Florence, South Carolina
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***7 Marks Of The Word Of God***
1. Perfect -- Psalms 19:7
2. Precious -- Psalms 19:10
3. Powerful / Piercing -- Hebrews 4:12
4. Pure -- Psalms 12:6
5. Purifying -- Psalms 119:9
6. Prophetic -- 2 Peter 1:19
7. Profitable -- 2 Timothy 3:16
James Booker
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***Peace, Power & Provision***
The little expression "like three peas in a pod" is quite applicable to
Philippians 4, for there are three P's that our God has given to us which we should be
enjoying daily. The chapter divides into three sections surrounding the three P's.
Verses 1 - 9 --- God's Peace - see verse 7
Verses 10 - 13 --- God's Power - see verse 13
Verses 14 - 23 --- God's Provision - see verse 19
It would appear from verse two that the two sisters mentioned were not enjoying God's
peace, and the writer suggests in verse five that we are to be moderate (mild, patient).
Please notice Paul did not suggest compromise, just moderation! And if we are not anxious
about things, the peace of God will be our portion -- what a promise! That peace of God
will protect our hearts (seat of the affections) and our minds (seat of the thought life).
These two organs are the most vulnerable in the human body -- we are subject to the attack
of the evil one in both areas. Then notice that if we are thinking on things that are
virtuous, the God of peace will be ours -- how blessed! How much better than
tranquilizers, therapy and consultation! Reading verses six and seven carefully, we learn
that right praying leads to right thinking (vs. 8) which will be followed by right living
(vs. 9).
We learn from verse 13 that God's power is available to us -- the very same power that
raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Please look back at verse 12 -- only the power
of God can enable a saint to honestly repeat Paul's testimony in verse 12. Knowing the
peace of God, and the God of peace, enables us to rest ourselves in Him quite easily,
since His strength is made perfect in our weakness anyway.
Finally, Paul states that no matter what we feel we have sacrificed, we cannot out-give
God. He is able to supply all our need (not necessarily wants). He is no man's debtor.
Brothers and sisters -- GIVE, GIVE, GIVE! Give of your time, your talents, your energies,
your resources, yourselves to the work of the Lord. He'll not disappoint you in this life,
and you will be laying up treasures in the life to come. Trust His great provision for
you!
Bill Gustafson
Waynesboro, Georgia
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***Like A Trumpet***
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet." Isaiah 58:1
I once belonged to a mission brass band until some of my more conservative friends,
concerned about my spiritual welfare, emphasized for my benefit the word, "Wherefore,
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." So I retired from the
realm of sounding brass and tinkling cymbals for the quieter atmosphere of assembly life!
But I retained my silver trumpet, thinking that one day it might be useful in open-air
work to strengthen the singing. During our four-and-a-half months stay on the island of
Eleuthera with the Mackenzies, we found it difficult to get the folks on time for the
meetings in the open air. So our brother, in announcing meetings, would say, "Now if
ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet (omitting flute, harp,
sackbut, etc.!), the meeting will begin." After playing a few well-known hymn tunes,
the introductory prelude worked as a musical magnet, and attracted folk to the place of
gathering more quickly. Then the cornet was laid aside, and the Gospel trumpet, in the
capable hands of Bro. Mackenzie, sounded forth with its clear, clarion call to repentance
and faith.
The call for faithful witness is more urgent than ever in this day of apathy towards the
things of God. Souls need to be aroused to realize the great danger of unbelief and
impending judgment. Then...
Christian, heed the call to service,
Serve your King with all your might,
Ours a life-long glad enlistment
In the darkest part of night.
Sound the trumpet, souls arousing,
Raise the song of triumph now,
With a passion for God's glory,
Stamped upon your conquering brow.
Sometimes faint, yet still pursuing
In the strength of God's great arm,
Till the warrior's sword of battle,
Is exchanged for victor's palm.
Faithful servants now with Jesus,
Rest above the battle din:
When the conflict's o'er we'll join them
Where the vanguard entered in.
Bernard Fell
Solihull, England
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***Lifted Up***
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted
up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life...when you
have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall you know that I am...and I, if I be lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. John 3:14-15, 8:28, 12:32.
He was lifted up on the cross to give life. He must be lifted up, for "without the
shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin". (Hebrews 9:22).
He was lifted up on the cross to give light. He demonstrates who He is while uplifted on
the cross. He did not die as a helpless victim of the circumstances of His rejection and
crucifixion by men. His dying cry was not the whisper of a whimpering, defeated man, but
the triumphant shout of a mighty victor. He cried with a loud voice, "It is
finished!" The Roman centurion cried out in awesome wonder, "Truly this was the
Son of God. Truly this was a righteous man." Both statements are blessedly true. He
is both God and man. Not half God and half man, but God manifest in flesh, for "in
Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." He was lifted up on the cross
so we might know who He is. Light streams from the cross.
He was lifted up on the cross to show the love of God. "God so loved the world, that
He gave His only begotten Son...He spared not His own Son...Hereby perceive we the love of
God, that He laid down His life for us." (John 3:16, Rom. 8:32, 1 John 3:16). His
love is the greatest attractive force in the universe. His love has not drawn all men
without exception to Him, but it has drawn all men without distinction to Him. He is no
respecter of persons, and, praise God, heaven will be peopled with men and women, boys and
girls from every tribe and tongue, singing, to His glory, "Thou art worthy, for Thou
wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and
nation and people." Well may we sing now
Lifted up was He to die, 'It is finished' was His cry,
Now in heaven exalted high, Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Elliot Van Ryn
Hialeah, Florida
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